After all sorts of speculation about what the Cleveland Cavaliers would do with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, they ended up using it to select Andrew Wiggins. Nearly universal praise followed.
"Cleveland fills its small forward spot with a player who will likely replace free-agent-to-be Luol Deng. Wiggins also becomes the team's first small forward to appease a fan base that lost LeBron James to Miami -- not including Deng and his half-season stint with the Cavs, of course."
"If Cleveland's choice really did come down to Wiggins and Duke freshman forward Jabari Parker, this was the right call. Wiggins strikes a better balance alongside Kyrie Irving: His complementary scoring plays well off the All-Star point guard without risking ball dominance; his competitive defense should, in time, help the Cavs overcome Irving's deficits in coverage; and there's reason to have high hopes for what a player with Wiggins' physical tools might become under new coach David Blatt, who is known for his X's-and-O's precision."
"In Wiggins, the Cavs got the best long-term player in the draft. Joel Embiid might have more upside, but the foot was a risk. Jabari Parker is the most ready now, but he has a limited ceiling. Wiggins has both huge upside and the ability to impact the game now on both ends of the floor. I think this is the right call for the Cavs. Great choice."
R. Cory Smith, Bleacher Report:
"With an ability to change a game with his lethal scoring and equally impressive defensive skill set, Wiggins has potential to become an All-Star in the NBA. When that potential turns into production on the court will be interesting to watch for Cleveland."
Cavs: Andrew Wiggins: A+. The best overall prospect and they don't need him with the ball early with Irving and Waiters. The future is now.
— Matt Moore CBS (@MattMooreCBS) June 26, 2014
Good job, Cavs.